Sam J. Enna, Ph.D.

Professor, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate EducationUniversity of Missouri Kansas City, 1970

Research Interest

Brain neurotransmitter receptors

Research Description

Research in my laboratory was aimed at defining the molecular, biochemical and pharmacological properties of brain receptors, particularly those associated with amino acid neurotransmitters. In recent years emphasis was on examining the regulation, expression and function of γ-aminobutyric acid B (GABA B) receptors in brain. Besides providing new information on the role of this receptor in the response to physiological and pharmacological manipulations, these studies provided new insights into the genomic and nongenomic regulation of this heterodimeric, G protein-coupled receptor.